Local officials outraged at cuts in funding for street repairs

Friday

Jun 14, 2013 at 6:00 AMJun 14, 2013 at 8:26 PM

By Elaine Thompson TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Local municipal leaders are steaming mad at Gov. Deval Patrick for cutting Chapter 90 funding, saying less money means fewer streets and roads will be repaired this summer, which will hurt the economy and end up costing taxpayers more in the long run.

The Legislature and the governor approved increasing Chapter 90 funding, used for street and road maintenance, from $200 million to $300 million for fiscal 2014. But on May 31, municipalities were notified by Richard A. Davey, secretary and CEO of the state Department of Transportation, that the governor had decided to release only $150 million.

In the letter that went out to each municipality, Mr. Davey said depending on the final disposition of the transportation finance plan, it may be possible to release additional Chapter 90 funding later in the next fiscal year. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Municipal leaders and some legislators say the governor delayed releasing $300 million because the Legislature rejected the governor's attempt to raise $1.9 billion in new taxes. They say the governor could have at least released $200 million, the amount Chapter 90 has been funded the past two years. The $150 million amounts to a 25 percent cut in Chapter 90 funding.

“It's a form of punishment that's going to be passed onto the municipalities and the people who drive on the roads all in the name of politics. It's a political maneuver over the Legislature,” said state Rep. Matthew Beaton, R-Shrewsbury.

Mr. Beaton said the governor could have bonded the $300 million while a joint committee is working on a transportation revenue package, which will include new taxes. He said he doesn't foresee that being more than $800 million, less than half of what the governor wanted.

Sara Lavoie, a DOT spokesman, said the reduced Chapter 90 funding is all about fiscal realities. She said the state currently does not have the revenue to support the entire $300 million.

“The release of the $150 million is the fiscally responsible move to make right now. Without any certainty surrounding new revenues, we would be setting ourselves up for some very hard choices by releasing the $300 million,” Ms. Lavoie said in an email message.

Worcester stood to receive $6,173,609 if the full $300 million had been distributed. The city's share of the $150 million is a little over $3 million, more than a million dollars less than what is expected for the current fiscal year.

Robert L. Moylan Jr., commissioner of Public Works and Parks, said the city is still waiting for Chapter 90 money allocated for the current fiscal year, which normally comes in April. Without the expected increase, projects will be delayed or deferred

“I can't give you the specific streets right now,” he said. “We may have money to cover the contracts now because we're aggregating money from various sources to cover the fact that Chapter 90 money hasn't come in,” he said. “It's like playing musical chairs. But somewhere along the line, you run out of ways to cover that. All the projects after that point will be delayed.”

Sean M. Divoll, DPW director in Oxford, said the town expected to receive more than $750,000 in Chapter 90 funding, but is now only getting $380,000.

“We had our roads program all set for the funding level of $750,000, so we're getting half as much work done as we thought we would,” said Mr. Divoll, who represents Worcester County on the state Highway Association. “I think the governor should honor the $300 million funding level the House and Senate approved. My assumption is if any more money is released, it won't be released in time for us to be able to use that money this construction season, so the costs continue to go up. Any delay in funding means we get less done for the same amount of money.”

John F. Knipe Jr., superintendent of streets in Shrewsbury, mailed a letter to the governor last week, blasting him for the problems caused by the funding reduction. He said the vague uncertainty of whether additional money will be forthcoming next fiscal year, does not allow his highway department time to properly plan for projects, especially those that span years, such as engineering of local bridges or state roads that are maintained by municipalities.

He called on the governor to schedule a meeting with legislators, the state Highway Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Shrewsbury is expected to receive $739,645 instead of $1,479,291 under the $300 million funding level.

State Sen. Michael O. Moore, D-Millbury, who serves on the Joint Committee on Transportation, said there is enough revenue in the transportation revenue package to cover the $300 million Chapter 90 funding level.

“Why the governor is doing this I don't know,” he said. “I'm hoping the governor at some point, sooner rather than later, will release the money. I am just as frustrated with the administration for not releasing the monies as Mr. Knipe is.”

Contact Elaine Thompson at ethompson@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @EThompsonTG